The Arizona sentinel., 1887-11-26
PROFIT IN GEESE.
A Few Words About the Most Remunera-
 tive of All Fowls.

tive of All Fowls.
 It is considered by some that geese are the most profitable of domesti- cated fowls that farmers can keep. l agree with this, provided the farmer has a place adapted to keep them, otherwise I should not. Geese, like turkeys. require considerable range in order to thrive, especially when young and growing. They should be fed two or three times a day on corn or corn dough, until they get enough of fresh or young grass to continue their growth steadily. and all the time have free access to living water. For a flock of thirty, say twenty-six gos- lings and four old geese, they should have range of twenty acres, though they would not require all the feed that might grow thereon. as other ani- mals that will feed after them can be kept also. Whether they are kept on less or grea' CT area, there should be and must be fresh or living water with brook orp pond continually for them to wash in as often as they de- sire. Unless this be the case they will soon get lousy, begin to droop their wings. pine away and die. though this can be partially averted by daily feeding on corn or dough.
 It is seldom that young goslings are subject to any disease, and they are quite sure to live with ordinary care; yet they are very tender until they ar rive at maturity, and are affected by disease, when it attacks them, quite as soon as any other domesticated fowls. A heavy rain upon q brood of young goslings, unprotected. will be as sure death to them as it would upon 9 brood of young chickens; while a light warm rain or pond of water is hap piness perfected to them and Lut little less to an observer.
 Geese are not only kept for the market, or for their flesh, but as well for their feathers. They generally begin laying the latter part of February, or the first part of March, and usually lay every other day. and continue, though not always regularly, until they have laid their litter-from ten 10 twelve eggs-when they begin sitting, and in about thirty days they bring out their brood.
 As soon as the weather is sufficiently warm or about the time the feathers begin to start on the goslings, the old geese should be picked by taking of all the small or bed feathers, but never any of the down. Handle the goose carefully while plucking her feathers. Never lock her wings in picking. nor cramp or bruise them in any way. In about ten weeks the old geese can and should be picked again, and the gos- lings picked also if they have been kept as sta ed, or in a thriving condi- tion. Taking this course in the proper | time, or as soon as the feathers have grown out and matured, old geese an be picked three times and goslings twice in u season before shutting up for fattening, a1d will, with those taken of when the geese arc dressed. average about one pound of feathers to 6 goose. Many arc very careless in picking their geese at tho proper time and in proper manner, while others do not pick them at all, considering that they do better in thus doing, or not doing This is not the case. as l know by actual trial, besides knowing it 10 be the experience of others quali- fled to judge. When geese are in jured in picking it is to be attributed more and l may say wholly to the improper time and manner in which they are picked rather than because they are picked, -COr. Farag gHd Home,